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Jay Grauer, a seasoned bass player who has accompanied the Sierra Nevada Concert Choir for the past 15 years, has played Carnegie Hall and has played the soundtracks in 135 motion pictures, is celebrating 60 years of playing bass. The SNC Choir will be performing “Elijah” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church.
For the past 15 years, the Sierra Nevada College Concert Choir has been accompanied on bass by Jay Grauer. Grauer started with the choir when he moved to the area from Los Angeles after retiring from the motion picture industry in 1992.
“I played in 135 films all told,” he said.
The list of films includes such motion pictures as “ET,” “JFK,” “Sister Act,” “City Slickers,” “Aladdin,” “101 Dalmations,” “Mission Impossible,” and “Ice Age.”
“When Jay started playing with us he was still going back and forth to L.A.,” Donna Axton, director of the SNC Concert Choir said.
Grauer studied the piano for about six or seven years before starting bass at the age of 13. He has now been playing bass for 60 years. Grauer studied with Herman H. Reinshagen for eight years. Reinshagen required a minimum of three hours a day of practice and when Grauer was preparing for a solo his practice hours would increase to four to six hours a day.
“When I was with the Army Congressional Band in Washington, D.C., I played for presidents Eisenhower, Nixon and Kennedy as well as de Gaulle and Khrushchev,” Grauer said. “I had conversations with President Nixon. He played piano, and was interested in the extension on my bass.”
Grauer no longer uses the extension as he plays a five-string bass and for “Elijah” will play a four-string bass.
“He has also played in our concerts featuring popular music,” Axton said. “He is real versatile.”
Grauer is also working on a summer tribute show that will be held at the Tahoe Biltmore. He will be playing a tribute to Patsy Cline and Bette Midler in July and August along with his wife, Jan Short.
“I really enjoy doing that because it is quite different,” he said.
Grauer has played at Carnegie Hall with his wife. They have even been invited back for a return performance, but can’t find the time to fit it into a very busy schedule.
The music for “Elijah” is very difficult according to both Axton and Grauer.
“I think what makes it more difficult is that you are telling a story, more like in an opera,” said Karen Colbert one of the soloists that will sing in “Elijah.”
“You not only have to hit the notes right but you have to impart your feelings and emotions in the music,” Colbert said.
“I have been practicing a couple of hours a day for about the last three weeks,” Grauer said. “This is very difficult music.”
“Having a bass really emphasizes and sustains the piano sound,” said Axton. “It moves the strings on the piano to a bigger and fuller sound.”
“I played in 135 films all told,” he said.
The list of films includes such motion pictures as “ET,” “JFK,” “Sister Act,” “City Slickers,” “Aladdin,” “101 Dalmations,” “Mission Impossible,” and “Ice Age.”
“When Jay started playing with us he was still going back and forth to L.A.,” Donna Axton, director of the SNC Concert Choir said.
Grauer studied the piano for about six or seven years before starting bass at the age of 13. He has now been playing bass for 60 years. Grauer studied with Herman H. Reinshagen for eight years. Reinshagen required a minimum of three hours a day of practice and when Grauer was preparing for a solo his practice hours would increase to four to six hours a day.
“When I was with the Army Congressional Band in Washington, D.C., I played for presidents Eisenhower, Nixon and Kennedy as well as de Gaulle and Khrushchev,” Grauer said. “I had conversations with President Nixon. He played piano, and was interested in the extension on my bass.”
Grauer no longer uses the extension as he plays a five-string bass and for “Elijah” will play a four-string bass.
“He has also played in our concerts featuring popular music,” Axton said. “He is real versatile.”
Grauer is also working on a summer tribute show that will be held at the Tahoe Biltmore. He will be playing a tribute to Patsy Cline and Bette Midler in July and August along with his wife, Jan Short.
“I really enjoy doing that because it is quite different,” he said.
Grauer has played at Carnegie Hall with his wife. They have even been invited back for a return performance, but can’t find the time to fit it into a very busy schedule.
The music for “Elijah” is very difficult according to both Axton and Grauer.
“I think what makes it more difficult is that you are telling a story, more like in an opera,” said Karen Colbert one of the soloists that will sing in “Elijah.”
“You not only have to hit the notes right but you have to impart your feelings and emotions in the music,” Colbert said.
“I have been practicing a couple of hours a day for about the last three weeks,” Grauer said. “This is very difficult music.”
“Having a bass really emphasizes and sustains the piano sound,” said Axton. “It moves the strings on the piano to a bigger and fuller sound.”
‘Elijah’ Performances
“Elijah” will be performed in Incline at 7:30 Friday and Saturday at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church. The choir selected “Elijah” to celebrate Felix Mendelssohn’s 200th birthday. A special performance will also take place at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 5 at Squaw Valley Chapel for Palm Sunday.
Tickets are available at The Potlatch in Incline, Pablo’s Gallery in Tahoe City, the SNC Bookstore or from choir members. Advance purchase is $12 or $15 at the door and $10 for seniors and students. For information, call Donna Axton at (775) 881-7586.
“Elijah” will be performed in Incline at 7:30 Friday and Saturday at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church. The choir selected “Elijah” to celebrate Felix Mendelssohn’s 200th birthday. A special performance will also take place at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 5 at Squaw Valley Chapel for Palm Sunday.
Tickets are available at The Potlatch in Incline, Pablo’s Gallery in Tahoe City, the SNC Bookstore or from choir members. Advance purchase is $12 or $15 at the door and $10 for seniors and students. For information, call Donna Axton at (775) 881-7586.
